The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-13
THE DEATH OF ROBERT D. MAF-
FETT.
The Faculty and Students Of Erskine
College Pay Tribute to His
Memory.
For the Herald and News.

For the Herald anu News.
At o'clock p. IN. on Saturday, Oct.
8, 1887, Mr.. r. D. Matfttt, Il student in
Erskine College, from Silver Street,
Newberry County, S. c., died of con-
geStive malarial fever. He had returned
70 college from his summer vacation
only one week previous to his death.
On Monday morning, Oct. 10, the
Faculty and students held memorial
service, before the corpse was removed
to his home for burial, to take the usual
official notice of the death.
The following resolutions were offered
by Professor Mccain:
WHEREAS, One of our number, Mr.
R. D. Maffett, has been taken from u;
by death; and whereas we wish 10 give
formal expression of our feelings in
reference to this sorrowful occurrence,
therefore be it resolved by lis, the facul'
ty and students of Erskine College:
l. That we recognize this aftlction as
not coming out IF the dust, but from
Him who has said, "What do thou
knoweth not now, but thou shalt know
hereafter"
2. That we hereby make known to
the family and friends of the deceased
our heartfelt sympathy with them III
this their time of trial and sorrow.
3. That we express our regret that the
pleasant association which We have had
with our friend, some Of us as teachers
and some of Us as fellow-stndents, is
thus broken up SD suddenly and so
sadly.
4. That we request the papers OF New
berry County to publish these resolu-
tions in their columns, in order that
they may be Seen by the friends OF Mr.
Maffett in bis own county.
Professor Hood seconded the resolu-
tions (His remarks are printed at the
request of the mother OF the deceased.)
Professor Hood said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: When we meet to
pay the last tribute of respect to de-
parted friend, is probably the time that
the saying is truest that, 1.-The heart
feels most when the lips move not"
But there is, on such an occasion, q so
lemnity in silence that oyercOmes the
heart, and it must seek relief in tears or
words. 1t is with sorrow we bid final
adieus to the living; but then there is
some comfort in the thought that them
we may meet again. How shall We
take a final leave of the dead! From
the erernal home whittier our young
friend has gone, no one ever returns.
The past OF such an one'is all that time
will ever give us. His memory, indeed,
we may cherish, his worth record, and
his virtues initiate. These the resolu-
tions propose to do; and, in giving them
a second, 1 wish to express my own
feelings OF personal loss in the death OF
this young man. Intimately acquainted
as have been with his father during
the last quarter of a century, in all the
martial and civic phases OF life expe-
rienced by our country and State within
that period, I felt a peculiarly strong at
tachment for the son from the first time
he appeared in our Campus. This at
tachment had continued to grow stronger
as years and intercourse extended.
The life of none of his companions WAS
more certainly fulfilling my expectations
that, with maturing years, he would de-
velop the highest type OF manhood
atfable, generous, and noble. 1t is,
however, one OF the sadJest mysteries
of life that no friendship however true,
no attachment however strong, no rem
edies however potent,-nor hope, nor
tears, nor nurSing,-not even the ten
der and eXhaustleSs ministrations OF the
love OF father or mother or any other
GIN stay the execution, when disease
comes commissioned of death. We must
III N, as we do here this morning, hum
bly, submit to the will OF Him whose
ways are truly not as mans ways.
Graceful and handsome OF person; cour.
teous in his intercourse with others, he
endeared himself at once to all around
him; and no one more welcome than ne
ever entered our recitation rooms. AL
ways polite and geutlemanly, he was
one to be loved by teachers and students
alike. Docile and tractable, no one ac-
cepted friendly counsel more kindly:
and in none shown more conspicuously.
in all the relations in which We knew
him, the warm impulses of a true and
generous heart. As in his life, we have
its lessons, its unfading and sacred
memories, so in his death as we'll We
have its lessons. The arrow is set again
Towards whom of Us is its barbed point
directed? While we, therefore. enshrine
his name in our hearts, and deeply
mourn with the bereaved family, let u:
ourselves expect the summons, and be
also ready. AS We pass these resolu
tions in the midst of this surrounding
sorrow, let lis resolve that, by the grace
of God, we will also be ready to enteI
in when the bridegroom cometh.
After these services, the corpse wa:
conveyed to the railroad station, accom-
panied by his family, and a long pro
cession OF teachers, students and c!ti
zens, to be taken to his home for burial
WM. NJ. GRIER, President.
WM. HOOD, Secretary.
The Prosperity Reporter will pleas
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